Outside lock-off and center stop for electrical switches



A. OAKES.

OUTSIDE LOCK OEE AND CENTER STOP IOR ELECTRICAL SWITCHES.

I APPLICATION FILED JUNE I3. I9I8. I 1,383,558.

- IIIIIIIIIIIIIL INVENT R ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARCIIIE OAKES, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO SQUARE D COMPANY, OF

' DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

OUTSIDE LOCK-OFF AND CENTER STOP FOR ELECTRICAL SWITCHES.

Application led .Tune 13,

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, ARCHIE OAKEs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Vayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Outside Lock-Offs and Center Stops for Electrical Switches, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, form a complete and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to outside lock oit and center stop devices for electrical switches of the inclosed type.

An object of my invention is to provide a. lock oit which may be attached to the eX- terior of the casing of an inclosed switch.

A further object. of my invention is to provide a center stop device which is adapted to temporarily retain a double throw switch in neutral position.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the above type which permits only a rapid motion Jfrom one extreme position to the other extreme position of a double throw switch.

A further object of my invention is to provide a construction whereby when the switch is temporarily hel-d in neutral position, it may be manually released.

A further object of this invention is to generally simplify the construction of outside lock offs for electrical switches.

A further object of this invention is to incorporate in one structure'devices which permit the locking ott' of the switch and also one which permits only a rapid motion of the switch from one eXtreme position to the other and further may be used to temporarily retain the switch inV neutral position.

One of the many possible forms of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure'l represents a side elevation of an inclosed switch (in dotted lines), and the outside lock off mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a plan view ofthe device; and

Fig. 3 is a side elevation thereof.

This device consists of a horizontal plate 1 which is provided with a iiange 2 which is Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 5, 1921. 1918. Serial No. 239,724.

adapted to be attached to the outside of the casing 3 of an electrical switch of the double throw type. This switch mechanism is not shown in detail in the drawing, but only so much thereot` as coperates with this looking.,r and center stop mechanism.

Referring now to Eig. 2, it will be seen jacent each end thereof, said slots guiding headed pins 5. A second plate, which is movably retained in position by means ot' the slots 4 and headed pins 5, indicated at 6, and is provided with inclined edges T symmetrically arranged on either sideot a central notch 8. A spring 9 has its ends l() passing through ears 11 termed integrally with the plate 1. The central part of the spring 9 passes around a stud 12 located in the plate 6, and is adapted to transmit its outward pressure centrally ot the plate G through the medium of this stud 12. thereby holdingr the headed pins 5 in engagement with the outer ends of the slots 4.' A finger piece 13 is provide-d upon the plate 6 whereby said plate may be pressed inwardly out ot its operative position.

The switch with which this device is adapted to coperate may be of thc double throw type and includes an external operat ing member 111 which is provided with a handle 15 at its upper end and is pivotally mounted in the case 3 at its lower end 1G.

From a reference to Fig. 1, it will be seen that when the operating' member 14 is in its central or upright position, it engages the notch 8 and is thereby held in such position. This position is the neutral position of the switch.

Upon reference to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be seen that the stationary plate 1 and movable plate 6 are each provided with alininrhy openings 1T. These openings are adapted to receive the bail portion ot a padlock or other locking means. It will, therefore, be under stood that the operating member 14 may be engaged in the notch or recess 8 and the bail portion of the padlock or other means passscd through the alining openings 17 and locked, thereby permanently locking the switch in oit position.

`that the plate l is provided with slots 4 ad- It is sometimes desirable to throw the double throw switch from one extreme position to the otlierwas, for instance,` in motor starting and it becomes necessary to prevent any but rapid motion from one extreme position to the other. rl`his is secured by the device above described, for as the operating;-

vpivot about either one ot the pins member 11 rides along either of the inclined taces 7 it depresses the member G and it the motion ot the member 1-1 is rapid enough,

the plate G acquires siifiicient momentum to 'teiniiorarily hold the notch S clear of the path ot' the operating member 11. However, if it is attempted to slowly move the operating member 14 from one extreme position to the other, the plate 6 immediately snaps outwardly and the notch 8 engages the member 14.

1V hen it is desired to release the operating member 14 from its locked position, if a padlock is used, it is, ot course, tirst removed and the finger piece 13 is depressed, thereby releasing the operating member 14 from engagement with the notch 8.

W hen the switch operating member 14 is moved from one ot its extreme positions to engage with either of the inclined edges 7, it will move the plate 6 inwardly against action of an end 10 of the spring 9. This motion will be oscillatory about the pin 5 which is opposite the engaged inclined edge 7, for the end 10 will hold such pin 5 in the lower position as shown in Fig. 2, while the engagement of the operating member 14 with the inclined edge 7 forces the other pin 5 to travel in the other slot e1. As the operating member comes near the notch 8, the plate (3 will then pivot about the pin 12 so that both pins 5 will slide upwardly, as viewed in Fig. 2. When the arm 14: is moved the other way, the plate first pivots about the pin 5 which was first described as sliding in the slot 4. On account of the symmetrical mounting of the plate 6 with respect to the two arms 10 of the spring 9, it will be noted that the plate is adapted to 5 depending upon which way the switch operating member is moved. lVhen the padlock is used to cooperate with the alining openings 17, the plate 6 is practically immovable tor it cannot pivot about either pin 5 bodily.

.From the above detailed description and trom the drawings it will be seen that applicant has provided a very simple device which is possessed of a number ot desirable characteristics and functions. For example, it is possible to lock the switch in ofi' 7 position; it is also possible to retain the switch temporarily in off position and readily release the same; and it is also further possible to insure a rapid motion from one eX- treme position to the other extreme position.

nor slide All of these functions` it will be noted. are secured b v this one device. considered as an entirety.

It is understood. of course. that the above detailed description and drawings are to be interpreted in an illustrative sense only and the invention is not to be limited, other than as defined by the following claims:

Having thus described my invention what l claim as, new and desire to secure by Letters Patent ot the United States is:

1. A center stop for double throw switches comi'irising a fixed member, a notched movable mcmber attached thereto, and a spring between said members, said ixed member having slots therein, and coperating pins on said movable member.

2. A center stop for double throw switches comprising a fixed member, a notched movable'member attached thereto, and a spring between said members, said fixed member having slots therein, and copcrating headed pins on said movable member.

3. A center stop for double throw switches comprising a fixed member, a notched movable member attached thereto and having an inclined edge, and a spring between said members, said fixed member having slots therein and coperating pinslon said movable member.

et. A center stop Jfor double throw switches r#imprising a fixed member and a movable notched spring pressed member, a finger piece on said movable member, and means for slidably holding said members together.

5. A center stop for double throw switches comprisinga fixed member and a movable notched spring pressed member, a finger piece on said movable member, and means for slidably holding said members together, comprising slots and headed pins coperating therewith.

6. A center stop for double throw switches comprising a stationary member provided with guiding slots, a movable notched member, a spring intermediate said members attached centrally of the movable member, headed pins adjacent the ends of the movable member coperating with said guiding slots, whereby said movable member is adapted to pivot about either end.

7. A center stop for double throw switches comprising a stationary member provided with guiding slots, a movable notched member having inclined edges, headed pins adjacent the ends of the movable member cooperating with said guiding slots, whereby said movable member is adapted to pivot about either end.

8. A center stop for double throw switches comprising a stationary member provided with guiding slots, a movable member having a central notch and symmetrical inclined edges on each side of said notch, a spring intermediate said members and arranged to switch of a center stop and leek 0H' combear centrally ofthe movable member` headprisngr a statimlary plate. and a movable ed pinel adjacent the ends of the movable spring pressed Imtehed plate having :dining l0 member volm'ating with the guiding slots, openings, Said movable plate having: headed 5 whereby said movable member is adapted to pins and said stationary plate having eopivot about either end. operating guiding Slots.

9. The combination with a double throw ARCHIE OAKES. 

